Vehicle Description
In 1949, the British military was in need of a replacement for
their �Dingo� reconnaissance vehicle which had served them well but
was getting on in age. They turned back to Daimler, the company
responsible for the Dingo, to develop their new scout car. For the
new vehicle, Daimler improved upon features that already worked
well with the Dingo. A welded steel monocoque chassis was
implemented and all of the drivetrain was enclosed inside the cabin
for added protection. Like the Dingo before it, the Ferret features
traditional rubber tires rather than tank-tracks, making the
vehicle more maneuverable and faster on a variety of surfaces. The
tires are also specially designed to be able to run flat in case of
a puncture. Ferrets were powered by a Rolls Royce B60 4.2 Liter
inline six making 130hp at a low 3750 rpm and featured 4wd with
coil spring suspension. The Rolls Royce engine was tough and
reliable and mated to a 10-speed gearbox (5 forward gears, 5
reverse). The Ferret was quick, maneuverable and tough and proved
very popular with militaries around the world. Nearly 5,000 were
built in a multitude of variants and remarkably stayed in service
all the way up through the 1990�s. This 1958 Ferret is in excellent
condition and carries with it a great history. While still in
England, the previous owner attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed
with it where it was said to have received more attention than any
nearby Ferrari. It is well equipped and still retains many original
details such as helmets, radios, tools and the original Rolls Royce
powerplant. Unlike traditional tanks, the Ferret is totally usable
and can be registered for road use. The Ferret�s rubber tires and
relatively small size make it an ideal choice for someone seeking
their first collectible military vehicle. This Ferret was most
recently part of the collection of a Daimler enthusiast who used it
regularly and even built a complete replica turret that was fitted
with paintball guns. The owners engineered a windscreen washer
system to clean the glass in case you took a paintball hit. We can
only imagine the stir this would cause at your local paintball
field. The Daimler Ferret is a fascinating piece of British
military history and a fascinating piece of engineering. It is
ready to be enjoyed on or off road and would be welcome at a
multitude of classic car or historic military events.
